Chapter 71

Chapter 71

‘No, no, nooo!’

No matter how much I screamed inwardly, the steps he took towards me did not stop.

Rather, they just became faster.

Obviously, he was far away a while ago, but the distance between us quickly narrowed.

I instinctively stepped back, and as I did, my foot caught on the dress and I tilted back.

Seeing this, Amoide started running.

“You can’t—”

I desperately tried to balance myself. Because of this, my body twisted around.

But then in only three of four strides as he ran…

Tak.

He grabbed my arm and my body followed.

“Selena.”

The voice calling me rang in my ears.

“……”

I didn’t answer, and he just held my arm.

I couldn’t raise my head or make eye contact with him. Somehow, I didn’t have the courage to do either.

However, without seeing his face, I could feel his gaze on me.

“We need to talk.”

A low voice spoke out. And upon hearing this, all the words he whispered into my ear last night quickly took over my mind.

That’s why, that’s why.

This and that, those shameful words and sounds that I shouldn’t be recalling while the sun was high up in the sky.

“…Um… uh, ah…”

As though I’d suddenly become younger, just babbling sounds could be heard coming out of my lips.

“Why are you like that? The weather? Is it because it’s hot?”

It’s right that the sun was scorching. The sun’s rays during noon were so intense that the brightness was poking at my eyes.

But while he was holding my arm, I couldn’t even feel that.

“L-Let go.”

“Ah.”

He released his grip on my arm, and I quickly retracted my hand as soon as he did.

“Sorry, does it hurt?”

His voice was full of concern.

“I’m fine.”

I answered quickly. In the meantime, I looked around.

“We need to talk.”

“……”

In the end, I had no other choice but this.

“Amoide, there, a snake!”

When I hurriedly pointed behind him, Amoide automatically looked back.

“Huh?”

And without missing that chance, I quickly turned around and started running.

I looked behind me once and I saw Amoide standing frozen in the same spot, a look of disbelief on his face.

When our eyes met, I looked in front of me again. I moved my legs as fast as I could, as though I was a rabbit running away from a lion.

Until he wouldn’t be visible behind me anymore, I ran and ran across the vast ducal estate.

“Ha… haa…”

How long had I been running?

I was out of breath and my legs were throbbing.

After running so suddenly like that, the exertion I did gave a shock to my legs, so they were trembling right now. Right now even, it felt like my body was overworked.

I suppose I really did run with all my might.

“Ugh…”

And the groans just flowed out of my lips by themselves.

Did I suddenly grow older by fifty years? Why do I feel like I’m about to die?

I tried to think about why I’ve become so fatigued, and at this, my brows furrowed.

And soon, I found the reason.

…That.

It was all because of last night’s excessive exercise—or labor.

Too much. It was too much.

‘Just how many rounds was it.’

I couldn’t even count it.

Last night’s aftermath resulted in many places in my body creaking.

My back hurts, my thighs are trembling, and…

Whenever I bite my lips, they would tingle all over again.

“I mean, it’s not my doing.”

How could my lips not be like this. There was a certain someone who wouldn’t leave my lips alone for even a moment.

I reached a hand up and rubbed my lips.

I just touched it slightly, but it stung so much. But that’s not all, they were even swollen.

It’s not just an illusion that my lips looked a little thicker when I looked in a mirror earlier.

How many times had he taken my lips?

…Of course it wasn’t just him who did it.

I really didn’t know just who it was who coveted the other’s lips more in such a hurry.

Like devouring a sweet fruit, like being drunk on the world’s most fragrant wine.

Traces of the time I spent with him were engraved all over my body.

“Crazy.”

I crouched down and groaned.

I really did go crazy. As soon as I touched the grass, I grabbed and pulled them out.

How am I supposed to face Amoide now?

I think I’ll be half out of my mind just by making eye contact with him or talking mundanely.

But what about him?

[ We need to talk. ]

Talk about what? What were you going to say?

‘Right, what was he about to say?’

What would a man and a woman talk about after an unintended night together?

…I’d have to see him to know.

In any case, would it even be possible for us to have a normal conversation?

We weren’t lovers, we weren’t even a proper couple, but all this was a huge accident that transpired through the almighty power of alcohol.

Usually, the two people would separate the next day.

We both had a good night, so that’s enough. Just the memories would be enough.

If we went on our own way like that, it would end there. Just a one night stand.

‘But that’s not the case.’

He and I weren’t officially a couple, and even if we were in different parts of the manor, we were still going to have to bump into each other.

In short, it was a very awkward situation.

“What should I do now.”

I really wanted to cry.

I wasn’t confident enough to face him again. I couldn’t imagine how much contempt he’d have in his eyes as he looked at me.

My eyes went blank at the thought of his resentment after I gave him alcohol and basically forced him to spend the night with me.

Why oh why did I bring liquor! And why did I still force him to drink when he said he didn’t want to! This incident wouldn’t have happened then.

“I wish I could just forget it.”

That night, as though nothing had happened. Think of it only as a dream. A fantasy induced by the moonlight.

As if nothing happened, let these memories be wiped from my mind.

* * *

Last night was strange.

Everything about it, starting with the moment Selena appeared with bottles tucked under her arms because her hands were already occupied.

Everything was against Amoide.

[ Tell me. If you say something now, you can put a stop to this. ]

Of course, he thought an answer would come back that she didn’t want it.

Then he really would have let go of her, hoping that he would be doused with cold water since he was in a state no better than a wild beast.

[ Being apart… I don’t want that. ]

However, when this was the answer he received, all rationality disappeared.

Seeing her sleeping in his arms that night, it was him who couldn’t sleep, restless.

She was this small—this thin.

Selena, who was breathing evenly, rubbed her face against his chest and embraced him even tighter.

[ Cold… ]

And as Selena said this, he also embraced her tightly in return.

In that moment that couldn’t be described in words,

Emotions flooded into him.

When he woke up, the place next to him was empty.

Obviously, he remembered clearly that he had been embracing something soft and warm in his sleep.

But the next morning, there was no one there. She was definitely supposed to be in his arms.

Was everything that happened last night just a dream?

No. That’s impossible. Even if he was drunk, he wouldn’t be able to forget those sensations.

He swept a hand over the creases in the sheets. There were traces of someone having slept there. And…

“……”

His blue eyes headed to the floor.

The same rose-patterned decorations on the bed’s headboard lay on the floor, shattered in such a disastrous way.

He remembered how it got broken.

He had restrained himself, but this enough was evidence that he couldn’t really hold himself back.

Did he go too far?

It was the first time for both of them, but their limits were different.

He remembered how Selena cried while he held her all night long.

There were moments when he tried to stop in the middle, however, his rationality would vanish and he’d continue again.

At that moment, he eventually forgot to restrain himself because he was so drunk on the sweetness and softness of Selena.

A little more. Just a little more.

And eventually, that night came to an end.

He thought that they were honest with each other last night.

Even if they were drunk, he knew that there was no lie in the moments they shared together.

[ Amoide, it’s strange, I feel strange— ]

Selena clung to him with tears trickling down. He thought that the pleasure he gave her became a cause for happiness.

His mind just went blank as he saw her like that. He knew he would be too much, but there was no choice but to continue.

That’s why he wanted to apologize. He wanted to ask if her body was hurt or if she was having a hard time.

However, as soon as he saw Selena, he was still so flustered by the fact that she left that morning.

He hurriedly ran after her and caught her, but she wouldn’t show her face.

What was it. What’s the reason.

Was it because she’s now so sick and tired of him, that’s why she’s trying to get away from him?

His slender fingers grabbed his hair tightly. The fine, golden hair got messed up in his hand.

All this time, he’s been struggling to find the reason.

“It couldn’t be.”

After ruminating for such a long time, only one thought came to mind.

“Was I that bad at it?”

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